Basic information about asthma

English

Imagine breathing through a straw. Now imagine that you are running or very stressed and trying to breathe through this straw. This is what millions of people with asthma experience when they have an asthma “crisis” or attack.

But what exactly is asthma?

Asthma is a chronic condition that affects your airways, which become narrowed, inflamed, and sometimes filled with mucus. The word “asthma” comes from the Greek word “aazein,” which means “open-mouth wheezing.” A good description considering how this disorder affects breathing.

Asthma symptoms

Asthma symptoms vary in each person and can also change, making diagnosis difficult.

Symptoms of asthma include:

Difficulty breathing
Tightness in the chest
Wheezing (a whistle that sounds when you exhale)
Shortness of breath, coughing, or wheezing when falling asleep
Coughing or wheezing that gets worse with a cold or respiratory virus

Signs that your asthma is getting worse include:

The most common symptoms
Lower readings on a respiratory flow meter, which measures how much air your lungs can exhale
Need emergency medication more often

If symptoms worsen to the point where you can no longer breathe or speak without gasping for air, it is a medical emergency. Call 911 immediately.

Types of asthma and their severity

Asthma ranges from mild to life-threatening and can get better or worse over time.

Doctors classify asthma cases based on the frequency and severity of symptoms:

Mildly intermittent: Symptoms occur no more than two days a week or two nights a month
Mildly persistent: Symptoms more than twice a week, but not every day
Moderately persistent: symptoms every day and more than one night per week
Persistently severe: symptoms most days, almost daily, and often at night

There are also different types of asthma:

Allergic: It is associated with inhaling allergens such as pollen, dust or animal dander.
Exercise-Induced: Triggered by physical activities
Cough variant: Cough is the only symptom or the main symptom
Occupational: Caused by triggering substances at work
Nocturnal: Symptoms occur primarily at night
Aspirin-induced: Triggered by aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Corticoresistant: No relief from standard corticosteroid treatments

Asthma risk factors and triggers

Anyone can get asthma, but the disease is more common. You may be at higher risk of having asthma if:

One of your parents has asthma
You have allergies such as allergic rhinitis (also called pollen allergy) or allergic diseases such as eczema (atopic dermatitis)
You are exposed to dust, chemical fumes or mold while working
You smoke cigarettes or are exposed to secondhand smoke
They live in areas with high levels of air pollution
You live overweight or obese

Crisis triggers are anything that triggers a response from your respiratory system. You can be allergic and non-allergic.

The most common allergic triggers include:

Dust
Animal hair
Poland
Moho
Food allergies

Common non-allergic triggers include:

Smoke, smog and air pollution
Exercise
Respiratory tract infections
cold air
Climate changes
Perfumes, detergents and other products with essences
intense emotions

Although intense emotions can trigger an asthma attack, this does not mean that asthma is “imaginary” as many people once believed. Laughing, crying, and other emotions can cause the muscles in your body, including the muscles around your airways, to tense up.

Who you are and where you live are also factors that influence asthma risk and asthma control. Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous populations in the U.S. have higher rates of asthma, more frequent emergency room visits, more hospitalizations, and often greater difficulty accessing doctors and medications compared to whites.

People in low-income neighborhoods may be exposed to more indoor and outdoor pollution, moisture, mold and pesticides.

Asthma diagnosis

To receive an asthma diagnosis, you will undergo a physical exam and answer questions about your symptoms and family history. Your doctor will then carry out some tests.

The most common asthma test is spirometry, which measures how much air you can breathe in and out quickly. If your doctor suspects allergies, you may be tested for them. If you experience symptoms while exercising, you may be given an exercise test, such as: B. walking on a treadmill or climbing stairs. Another possible test for exercise-induced asthma is the methacholine challenge test, which involves inhaling medication and repeating spirometry to see how your airways respond to that medication.

Asthma control and treatment

People with mild or well-controlled asthma are usually cared for by their primary care physicians. People with more complex, uncontrolled or severe asthma may receive care from pulmonologists (lung doctors) and possibly allergists.

There is no cure for asthma, but most people can control symptoms with medication and lifestyle changes to avoid triggers.

Asthma medications are typically divided into two groups: quick-relief (rescue) medications and long-term or preventive medications (maintenance medications).

Quick-relief medications are usually inhalers, which work quickly and relax your airways. They may contain corticosteroids (steroids) to reduce inflammation or bronchodilators to widen the airways. If inhalers do not control your symptoms, you may need oral corticosteroids such as prednisone or, in severe cases, intravenous corticosteroids.

Corticosteroids can save lives, but they can also cause serious side effects such as high blood pressure, bone loss (osteoporosis), and an increased risk of infections if used too often or for a long time. To reduce this risk, your doctor may prescribe preventative medications if you suffer from frequent asthma attacks.

Long-term control medications, also called maintenance medications, are useful for reducing the number of asthma attacks. However, they do not work as emergency medications because they take some time to take effect and they must be taken regularly, even if you have no symptoms.

Long-term maintenance medications commonly include inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting bronchodilators.

Other options include leukotriene modifiers (pills), older medications like theophylline, and newer biopharmaceuticals. Biopharmaceuticals can be administered through injections or infusions and may be used as additional treatment for people with moderate or severe asthma whose symptoms cannot be controlled despite treatment.

Living well with asthma

When well controlled, most people with asthma can lead full lives and work, exercise, and enjoy normal activities.

Important steps to keep your asthma under control include:

Take preventative medications exactly as directed
Keep rescue inhalers nearby and use as directed
Avoid known triggers as much as possible
Stay up to date on recommended vaccinations, such as those against the flu
Consult your doctor regularly

It is important to talk to your doctor if you experience new symptoms or if your symptoms worsen. You may need to adjust your therapy plan.

This educational resource was created with support from Sanofi and Regeneron.

From your website articles